Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas CIty Website

Children’s Mercy Hospital doctor responds to Missouri Attorney General’s lawsuit banning mask mandates in schools

A children’s hospital doctor is responding to the Missouri Attorney General’s lawsuit that aims to ban schools from requiring students and staff to wear masks. Dr. Jennifer Watts of Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City says the hospital is strongly advocating to keep children in school.     Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing Columbia […]

Medicaid Expansion

Audio: Missouri’s Governor says state will proceed with Medicaid expansion

Missouri’s governor says the state will proceed with voter-approved Medicaid expansion, following a unanimous ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court and Tuesday’s ruling from Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem. The judge has ordered the state to enroll residents covered under the expansion. Governor Mike Parson tells Missourinet that the state will follow the order. […]

Chewy Website

Audio: Chewy is opening a giant fulfillment center near Kansas City this week

Chewy is opening a giant fulfillment center near Kansas City this week.     “Online pet product retailer Chewy has announced plans to open a new 800,000 square foot eCommerce fulfillment center in Belton. A press release from Gov. Mike Parson’s office says the company expects to hire more than 1,200 workers. Andrew Pitkin. Missourinet […]

Audio: Starting in August, Missouri’s colleges and universities will no longer have a limit on annual tuition hikes

A new law beginning in August will allow Missouri’s colleges and universities to charge more intuition. Excelsior Springs State Representative Doug Richey sponsored the language that removes a limit on annual tuition increases. He tells Missourinet he does not expect schools to charge unreasonable tuition rates.     Richey says the change will also allow […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Audio: Senator Josh Hawley says it’s time to leave Afghanistan, its overdue

Missouri’s United States Senator Josh Hawley, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says it’s time for troops to leave Afghanistan.     Hawley says military resources need to be moved to other more threatening locations:     The president ordered troop removals and said on Wednesday that it would begin evacuating […]

Medicaid Expansion

Quick ruling expected from Missouri Supreme Court on Medicaid Expansion

Missouri’s Medicaid expansion lawsuit case is now in the hands of the seven-member state Supreme Court. The court heard about 35 minutes of oral arguments Tuesday morning in Jefferson City. This case will likely come down to the definition of “appropriation.” Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled in June that Missouri’s August Medicaid expansion […]

Governor Mike Parson

Audio: Governor Parson praises northern missouri’s Macon, during Bicentennial Tour across Highway 36 corridor

The governor visited seven small northern Missouri towns across the Highway 36 corridor on Monday, as part of his Bicentennial Tour. One of them was Macon, a farming community between Moberly and Kirksville. Governor Mike Parson describes Macon’s Historical Society museum as incredible.     Several presidents have visited Macon over the years, including then-President […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Audio: Missouri Supreme Court to hear Missouri Medicaid expansion lawsuit case this morning

The Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday morning, July 13, 2021, in Jefferson City in one of the biggest cases the court has faced in recent memory: Missouri’s Medicaid expansion lawsuit case. Oral arguments will begin Tuesday at 11 a.m.     Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled in late June that […]

Deadly Shooting

Audio: Alleged drug dealer shot in the head by elderly man from Moberly has died

An alleged drug dealer shot last week by an elderly man from northern Missouri’s Moberly has died. Our Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX reports 49-year-old Mitchell Nickerson was shot in the head by 79-year-old Jerry Fitzwater, who told detectives he shot Nickerson because the man had allegedly sold drugs to children. Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford […]

Court TV van parked at Courthouse

Audio: Former Missouri corrections employee convicted of killing his secret fiancee to be sentenced today

A northern Missouri man convicted of the high-profile 2018 murder of his secret fiancee will be sentenced this (Monday) morning in Jefferson City.     Fifty-four-year-old James Addie of Mexico, Missouri has been convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the 2018 death of Molly Watson, his secret fiancee. Watson was shot to […]

Audio: Missouri’s governor opposes federal agents going door-to-door to compel COVID-19 vaccinations

Missouri’s governor is opposed to the idea of federal employees or federal agents going door-to-door to encourage or compel COVID vaccinations. Reporter Justin Fischer at Missourinet Cape Girardeau television partner KFVS has the story.     The governor says the state will NOT force residents to take the COVID vaccine. Governor Mike Parson tells Capitol […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Audio: Missouri business groups file court briefs in support of Missouri Medicaid expansion

A number of Missouri’s most influential business groups have filed a legal brief, in support of Medicaid expansion. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has the update.     The Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Jefferson City in Missouri’s high-profile Medicaid expansion lawsuit case. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and several business groups in St. […]

Unemployment Benefits Graphic

Audio: Missouri labor officials will review Federal unemployment overpayments for possible waiver

Missouri Labor officials have announced that they’re starting a process for Missourians who received unemployment overpayments to apply for a potential waiver. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations emphasizes that this involves non-fraud FEDERAL unemployment overpayments. St. Louis Democratic State Representative Peter Merideth has been urging DOLIR to waive the federal portion:   […]

Booking Photo of Shawn Martin

Audio: Man from mid-Missouri’s Tipton convicted of five child sex crimes

A September sentencing date has been set for a man from mid-Missouri’s Tipton, who’s been convicted of child sex crimes.     42-year-old Shawn Martin of Tipton has been convicted of five child sex crimes, including statutory rape and sodomy. While Martin is from Tipton, east of Sedalia, prosecutors say the crimes happened more than […]

Gallery View of Missouri Senate

Audio: Missouri’s FRA special session begins today at noon in Jefferson City

The governor has called a special legislative session to extend a key funding mechanism for Missouri’s Medicaid program, warning that failure to extend the FRA would cost Missouri 591-million dollars in the fiscal year 2022. The FRA is the state’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz says lawmakers have been working on […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Audio: Missouri judge plans to issue a ruling by Wednesday in Missouri’s Medicaid expansion lawsuit

A judge in mid-Missouri’s Cole County expects to issue his decision in Missouri’s Medicaid expansion lawsuit by tomorrow (Wednesday). Brian Hauswirth covered Monday’s hearing in Jefferson City:     Three Missouri women are suing the state over the issue of Medicaid expansion. They note 53 percent of Missouri voters approved Amendment Two in August. Their […]

Gavel and Missouri Flag

Audio: Missouri Public Defender System prepares to hire 53 new attorneys, biggest staffing increase since around 1989

If Gov. Mike Parson does not make changes to the Missouri Public Defender System’s next budget, the office is on track to get its largest staffing increase since about 1989. Director Mary Fox tells Missourinet 53 new public defenders would be hired statewide.     “This is going to make a huge difference in terms […]

Handgun on Constitution right to carry 2nd Amendment or Second Amendment

Audio: Northeast Missouri gun dealers pleased with Second Amendment Preservation Act’s signing

Gun dealers in northeast Missouri are praising the governor’s signing of the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA), describing it as a win for Second Amendment rights. Reporter Dylan Austin from Missourinet Quincy affiliate WGEM has the story:     SAPA declares that it’s the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies to protect the […]

Audio: Mistrial declared in murder case involving man accused of killing woman because of her sexual orientation

A mistrial has been declared in southwest Missouri’s Lebanon in the case of a Camdenton man charged with killing a woman because she was gay. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has the update:     The mistrial was declared after the jury was seated Monday, but it’s unclear what caused it. Missourinet Lebanon affiliate KBNN reports Steven […]